News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | May 25, 2026
Local News
New Kent man enters no contest plea to abduction, violating protective orders
A New Kent man who held a family member against their win last Fall has entered a no-contest plea to the offense. Devin Joseph Pardun, 46, of the 5900 block of Hingham Drive, New Kent, entered no contest pleas to one count of abduction and three counts of misdemeanor violating a protective order as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Eleven additional counts of violating a protective order, one count of misdemeanor assault and battery of a family member, and one count of misdemeanor obstruction of justice were dropped as part of the…
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Newport News man’s high-speed chase in New Kent results in 10-year prison term
A Newport News man will spend 10 years in prison for leading a high-speed chase that spanned two counties and nearly injured several New Kent deputies. Adrian Gerard Offer, 36, of the 500 block of Woodall Court, learned about his term of incarceration as part of Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. On Feb. 12, Offer’s case went before a jury. At that trial, New Kent Commonwealth’s Scott Renick played video of the pursuit with sheriff’s deputies and Offer. The video from Nov. 27, 2024 showed that a New Kent deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on…
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Charles City citizens question proposed budget, criticize leadership’s handling of past finances
Charles City citizens are questioning the county leadership’s ability to have a constructive and realistic budget. Six citizens took to the podium as part of the Apr. 16 public hearing on Charles City’s proposed 2026-27 budget. Residents did not hesitate to question the proposed $48,456,117 budget for the next cycle, which is nearly $8 million more than the county’s current operations. While Charles City County Administrator Keith Rogers Jr. said in previous meetings that $8 million would be allocated to address the county’s wastewater problems, citizens raised concerns about financial projects and abilities for the county to properly budget due…
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Referendum for fourth supervisor in Charles City County passes in special election
A referendum to change Charles City County’s form of government has passed in a special election. A special election held on Apr. 14 resulted in the referendum passing 1,306-401 to change the form of government. The passing of the referendum will see a fourth member added to the county’s board of supervisors. The new position will be considered as an at-large position, meaning the entire county will vote on the new supervisor in a special election this upcoming November. The referendum was presented as frustrations mounted from the public with current county leaders. The additional supervisor will also allow flexibility…
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Charles City supervisor questions upcoming budget, funding for CIP projects
An Apr. 7 budget work session for Charles City County focused on addressing Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects. But for one county supervisor, the desire for more spending and apparent double designations in some line items raised a series of questions. Charles City District 1 Supervisor Ryan Patterson posed nearly two hours of questions during the work session about the county’s proposed FY2026-2027 budget. Charles City County Administrator Keith Rogers Jr. represented the proposed $48,456,117 budget during the work session. Rogers reiterated that there is no tax increase and that he expects an improved collection rate on taxes to contribute…
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Pagano resigns from New Kent School Board
Keith Pagano has stepped down from his position as the District 1 representative and board chairman for the New Kent County School Board. The announcement came during an Apr. 7 special meeting of the school board. After District 4 representative Ron Vaught was elected as the new chairman, he made a statement that Pagano, who was in attendance, resigned due to a change in residency. By law, in order to be a representative of a district, the person must live in the district. New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols indicated to the board that they will need to appoint…
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Charles City’s $48 million proposed budget includes no tax increase, focuses on CIP
A proposed budget for Charles City County will see no tax increase, but nearly $7 million more needed to address capital improvement needs. Charles City County Administrator Keith Rogers Jr. presented a $48,456,117 proposed FY2026-27 budget during a Monday afternoon board meeting. That figure is up 16 percent from the county’s current budget of $41,638,855. Citing the need to address capital needs, Rogers’ presentation focused on more than $8 million in addressing the county’s wastewater plant issues. Under the proposal, funding will be used to address issues at the Kimages Wastewater Plant ($3 million), the Courthouse Complex plant ($2.5 million),…
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New Kent proposed tax rate drops by one cent, may fall by additional penny
At New Kent’s March 9 regular board meeting, New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway proposed a budget of $266,424,821 that included a five-cent tax raise that would be used to cover Capital Improvement Projects. After receiving a directive from county supervisors at a follow-up budget retreat, at least one penny has come off that projection. Hathaway presented an updated figure during the March 25 New Kent Board of Supervisors work session that showed a four-cent increase, making the real estate tax rate at 58 cents per $100 of assessed value. And another penny isn’t off the table. During the updated…
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Richmond man slammed with three-year jail term for distributing meth in New Kent
A Richmond man will spend three years in prison for distributing drugs in New Kent County. Bradley Dale Tomlin, 33, entered a no contest plea to one count of distributing methamphetamine as part of an agreement reached Monday during proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. A no contest plea indicates that evidence presented during the trial would be enough to convict the defendant of the offense. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on July 1, 2024, the Twin Rivers Drug Task Force conducted a controlled buy, with Tomlin identified as a suspect. A…
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New Kent schools back $56 million budget, new elementary school project at joint work session
New Kent County Public Schools continue to support their cause for funding and the construction of a new elementary school. School officials presented a $56,483,363 budget to county leaders as part of Friday morning’s joint work session between the school board and supervisors at the Providence Forge Forestry Center. Of the aforementioned amount, the school’s general fund is being requested in the amount of $52,468,218, up seven percent from the current year. The school’s textbook fund received a small bump, but the nutrition fund is projected to decrease by almost $1.5 million. The school grand fund is expected to grow…
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